A study determined if the Directed Reading-Thinking Activity (DR-TA) method would raise levels of critical thinking in students. Subjects, 20 third-grade students, used the DR-TA for 30 minutes each day for a period of approximately 8 weeks. Subjects were pre- and posttested using the Thinking Skills Assessment and the Reading Attitude Inventory.…

This document describes the implementation of a practicum intervention designed to improve the analytic abilities of academically above-average fifth and sixth graders in a class that emphasized academic excellence. When students were tested on the development of complex thinking abilities, several areas needing improvement were identified. A…

This report describes a program for increasing the thinking skills of fourth grade students in one classroom in northern Illinois. Both objective and subjective data gathering found that students experienced difficulty in relating and applying facts and concepts on tasks requiring more sophisticated thinking. Solution strategies combined with an…

A practicum addressed the problem of poor reading comprehension of average ability third graders in a southeastern U.S. elementary school. The target group consisted of 24 third-grade students from a low socio-economic background. The reading program was initiated to improve reading comprehension skills. The average test score on the basal reading…

A practicum aimed to strengthen the reading abilities of first grade students. Objectives included having first graders: (1) strengthen phonetic and decoding skills; (2) progress to grade level in the basal reading series; and (3) master a problem solving process that would enrich critical thinking skills. Subjects, 52 first grade students,…

A practicum was designed to help high school students become more creative by encouraging them to be audacious, divergent thinkers capable of entertaining several contradictory ideas simultaneously. Tolerating paradox and ambiguity are vital components in developing creativity. These goals were achieved by developing a nurturing, caring, accepting…

A practicum was developed to aid second graders who were experiencing difficulties in reversals and transpositions of letters, words, and numbers in written language and math. At each teacher's recommendation, one or two children demonstrating reversal problems were given help to reduce their reversals. A series of language arts and math tests…

This paper describes a practicum that incorporated semantic mapping, "rich" context clue instruction, and teacher modeling into a 12-week instructional program for 18 Chapter 1 fourth-grade students in rural Georgia who had shown deficiency in vocabulary knowledge with standardized test scores below the 50th percentile in the second and…

The knowledge teachers in an elementary school had of constructivist principles in the context of standards-based teaching and assessment was investigated and then addressed through a graduate-level course developed by the researcher. The knowledge level of the teachers was studied through interviews, classroom observations, and responses of 46…

This practicum was designed to increase student exposure to literature enrichment opportunities, to further develop student understanding and appreciation of literature, and to intensify the long-lasting effects of literature study and enrichment. A diverse literature enrichment program was designed and was presented to the 35 students enrolled in…

A fourth grade teacher in an accredited parochial school implemented and evaluated a 10-week practicum intervention designed to improve nine elementary school teachers' understanding of terminology related to thinking skills and to increase their integration of thinking skills processes into the curriculum. Thinking skills addressed were…

This practicum was designed to improve critical thinking skills and reading abilities in fourth-grade students in a rural elementary school. A test administered prior to implementation of the practicum revealed that students' reading ability ranged from primer to third grade level. During the practicum, 15 students who were members of an…

The concept of the mole and its relationship to chemical algebra is difficult for many high school chemistry students to master. This paper describes a study of the use of proportional reasoning when teaching mole relationships and its effect on developing critical thinking skills. The Test of Logical Thinking (TOLT) was used as a pre- and…

A practicum attempted to improve the low reading achievement of Chapter 1 students in a low socioeconomic fifth-grade class by implementing a self-esteem building program. Activities were designed in a workbook format to complement class instruction in self-esteem building exercises. An emphasis on critical thinking skills was incorporated into…

A practicum was designed to improve reading comprehension in 50 third-graders over an 8-month period. The practicum's peripheral goal was to improve the efficient use of the microcomputer as a tool to supplement reading comprehension. The program included computer lab experiences to teach keyboarding skills, language arts software use, and the use…